Combination handhold and soap dish for bathtubs



Jan.1s,1942. EM. ANDERSON Em 2,2 9, 20

COMBINATION HANDHOLD AND SOAP DISH FOR BATHTUBS Filed Sept. 7, 1940 azM/n 7.7 46 {if IN V EN TORS ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 13, 1942 COMBINATION 'HANDHOLD 'AND SOAP DISH q- FORBATHTUBS Edward M. Anderson and John B. Hicks,

Monalca, Pa.

7, 1940, Serial No; 355,756

Application September 2 Claims.

This invention relates toimprovements in bath tub construction and the main object of the invention isto provide a hand-hold in convenient reach of the bather which can be gripped so that he can support himself while enteringor leaving the bath tub.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a hand-hold for bath tubs so disposed that it can be quickly and conveniently gripped by the hands of the person using the tub in case of accidentally slipping on the smooth surface of the tub.

. Still another object of the invention is to provide a bath tubwith a hand-hold mounted between the vertical walls ofa recess in the rimof the tub' in which the loweror bottom portion may be used as a receptacle for soap.

- Yet another object of the invention is to provide a hand-hold which may be embodied into any bath tub of the built-in type without materially altering its general construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bath tub with a hand-hold which may be efficiently cast and prepared to be covered with vitreous enamel.

Still another object of the invention is to providea bath tub, especially of the built in type, with a hand hold that is neat in appearance, ornamental and one which may be readily cleaned.

To the accomplishment of these and other objects as may hereafter appear the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view of a handheld, in accordance with the invention, attached to the upper rim portion of a bath tub of the built in type, partly in section.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view of a "built in bath tub showing'the hand-hold 'in accordance with the invention.

Figure 4 is a top view of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view on line 55 in Figure 3.

As is well known, many accidents occur to users of bath tubs, especially of the type commonly known as "built in tub, which designates a tub in which the outer edge of the roll rim of the exposed front of the tub is extended downwardly to the floor level to form an apron. Such a tub provides practically .no means in convenient reach of the bather to be gripped by the hands for supporting him from slipping during the period of entering or leaving the tub, or to aid him in raising or lowering the body to a sitting position.

As is apparent to those skilled in the art, bath tubs'are made out of metal and preferablycast after which the exposed parts of the shell or form are thoroughly cleaned by sand blasting, hand scraping or otherwise then reheated and covered with a hard enamel surface resembling glass.

We are aware that many attemptshave been made to provide gripping means for bath tubs, but in nearly all cases, especially when madeintegral with the shell or welded thereon, the rough casting of the shell can not be properly prepared for the enameling process due to complicated cored portions usually causing irregularities and rough places which cannot be efficiently cleaned or scraped in preparation for the enameling process as is especially required in mass production.

Another disadvantage of present hand-holds in bath tub rims is that the recess for the hand hold is usually of substantially L shaped crosssection (see for instance Pat. Nos. 1,980,929, 2,079,410) in which the horizontal leg forms the bottom of the soap dish and the outer face of the vertical leg conforms to the outline of the customary front apron without materially showing the recess from the outside face of the tub. Since the width of the roll rim is limited and more or less standardized such recess provides insufficient gripping space for the hand, especially in case of emergency when accidentally slipping while entering or leaving the tub.

Aforesaid disadvantages have been fully overcome in the construction shown in the accompanying drawing in which the numeral I0 designates, in general, a bath tub of the built in type having end walls II and I2, a rear wall l3, an exposed front wall I 4 and a bottom IS.

The front roll rim l6 which extends downwardly to the fioor level of the bath room to form an apron I1 is provided with a substantially rectangular recess I8 conveniently located and of appropriate length and having vertical end walls I 9 and 20 and a bottom 2|. The outer edge 22 of said bottom 2| is provided with a continuous upstanding ledge 23, while the inner edge 24 has The vertical walls [9 and 20 of said recess 18 have coincident circular opening 29 and 30 respectively, each adapted to freely receive the shoulder 3| of a flanged nut 32.

Extending longitudinally between the vertical walls I9 and 20 is a handle bar 33, provided with threaded ends 34 which engage the threaded portion 35 of said flanged nut 32 in the manner shown in Figure 1. knurled as shown and indicated by the numeral 36 so as to provide a better gripping surface.

The said handle bar 33 may be quickly assembledintherecessiB of the bath tub by first screwing a flanged nut 32 upon the threaded ends 34, with the flanged ends 31 facing outwardly of the ends until the distance between said flanged ends 31 is less than the distance between the vertical walls. I9 and ill! of recess it. In that condition,

the ends 34 of said handle bar 33 may be-readily inserted in the apertures 29 and 33 of the recess l8 after which the flanged nuts 32 may be turned, preferably by hand, until the shoulders 38 of the nuts 32 come in "frictional contact with the faces of the walls I9 and 20. In order to securely tighten the nuts a wrench may be used on the hexagon flange provided therefor.

Of course, in the construction of the shell of thebath tub the recess must be cast or stamped integral with the shell.

Although it is preferable to attach the handle bar 33 to the bath tub in a manner as shown in Figure l, in certain cases, it may suihce to employ a threadl'ess rod to which flanged sleeves may be secured to the rod by a set screw or otherwise.

The handle bar 33 and flanged nuts 32 may be plated or enameled in color which would considerably add w the general appearance of the bath tub.

Said handle bar 33 may be Although it is preferable to arrange a single hand hold in the front rim of the bath tub, as shown, two or more hand holds may be used, it so desired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawing, it will be seen that the invention provides a hand hold for bath tubs of the character set forth which is simple in construction and designed to carry out the objects of the invention in a reliable and efficient manner.

We claim:

1. A bath tub having a front roll-rim portion provided with a recess integrally formed therein intermediate its length, the recess having a bottom and vertical end walls and being open along its top and its inner and outer sides, said end walls having aligned openings formed, therein, the outer longitudinal edge of said bottom having a continuous upstanding ledge joining said vertical end walls, the inner longitudinal "edge of said bottom having a centrally interrupted upstanding ledge also joining said vertical end walls, said ledges cooperating with the bottom to produce a pocket to hold a cake of soap, the inner interrupted ledge also adapted to provide a drain for liquid which may accumulate in said pocket, a removable handle bar interposed horizontally in the recess between'the end walls and having threaded end portions, and flanged nuts fitting aboutthe handle bar in threaded engagement with the threaded end portions thereof and having end portions insertedin the openings of the end walls to .detachably mount the handle bar.

2; A bath tub having a front'roll-rim portion formed with a recess having a bottom and end walls and being open along its inner and outer sides and at its top, the bottom constituting a soap holdin'g member, the end walls being formed with aligned sockets,- a handle bar extending longitudinally in the recess and having threaded end portions, and sleeve 'nuts about the handle bar internally threaded for engagement with the threaded ends thereof, said sleeve huts extending into the sockets and having annular flanges abutting the end walls of the recess about the sockets to firmly mount the handle bar in the recess.

EDWARD ANDERSON. JOHN B. HICKS. 

